ED Shipping Grounds 19 Vessels After Black Sea Drone Attacks Kill 31 Sailors

ED Shipping has taken 19 of its 26 vessels out of service, a move that leaves the company losing millions of dollars each month as drone attacks on the Black Sea continue to rise. The halt in operations follows a surge in strikes that has killed or left missing at least 31 seafarers this year, forcing many shipping lines to scale back their presence in the region.

The danger became acute for the crew of the cargo ship HS Dignity just after 1:30 a.m. on October 13. A sea drone struck the hull of the 123-metre vessel, causing it to sink in heavy swells. Captain Ashraf Mamdouh ordered the 16 Syrian and Egyptian crew members to abandon ship. As they moved to the deck in life jackets, they spotted a boat speeding toward them in the dark. Mamdouh said the group shone flashlights at the vessel, believing it was a rescue team, only to realize no one was at the controls. The boat was part of the attacking group. It rammed the Dignity before the crew could finish launching their lifeboats.

Mamdouh urged the other sailors to swim clear of the sinking ship. Strong winds and currents pulled the group apart. He lay in a life raft for four hours until another vessel, the Azov Concord, appeared. He signaled with his phone's flashlight and was rescued. Five crew members survived the Dignity attack. Eleven are listed as missing, including 18-year-old Syrian seafarer Hamza Suleiman, who was on his first voyage.

Maritime risk firm Ambrey reports more than 500 attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov this year. The firm believes Russia was responsible for 40 of the 45 attacks recorded in October. Russia's Ministry of Defence has acknowledged striking dozens of ships this month, stating that the targets supported Ukraine's military. Ukrainian officials have said the vessels carried stolen Ukrainian grain, military cargo, and fuel. Many of the recent strikes occurred in the western Black Sea, off the coasts of NATO members Bulgaria and Romania. On Friday, a Comoros-flagged ship was hit by drones just outside Romanian territorial waters. One body has been recovered from that incident, and three people remain missing. Romanian President Nicușor Dan blamed Russia for the attack.

NATO has responded to the rising threat by deploying more patrol boats and radar systems to enhance maritime security. The disruption has led other nations to act as well. The Philippine government has barred its citizens from boarding vessels in the northern Black Sea. Khaldoun Nabelsi, head of the Syrian Seafarers Association of the U.K., said he has counted at least 18 Syrian seafarers killed. He noted that while no one is forced to take these jobs, economic pressure often drives sailors into dangerous waters. Many of the recent attacks occurred in the western Black Sea, off the coasts of NATO members Bulgaria and Romania.

ED Shipping's chief financial officer, Demre İşcen, confirmed the company's financial strain. The company's ship Circon was hit on June 5 in the Sea of Azov, killing two crew members. İşcen disputed Ukraine's claim that the vessel carried stolen grain, saying it was heading to load Russian grain. The surviving crew members of the Dignity are currently waiting in Bulgaria for new documents to fly home. Mamdouh said he will not return to the Black Sea again.